Introduction

The demand for Social Development and Welfare is high in present socio, economic and political atmosphere in Sri Lanka. Thus, as a way of dissemination of the knowledge and training in the field of social development and welfare targeting surrounding community includes workers in government, non-government and private sectors, the Center for Open & Distance Learning (CODL), Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka conducts the one year Diploma in Social Development and Welfare. Working in social development involves work in collaboration,collective decision making about how a particular community canmove forward in a beneficial way. This diploma program involves ten (10) course unitsto provide enhanced understanding of basicconcepts, theory and issues in the field of social development and welfare in a Sociological perspective emphasizing the acquisition of associated skills.